Settlement of Purchase Negotiations on the Estate of Mr. D. C. O'Connell.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that proceedings have been instituted against the tenants on the estate of Mr. D. C. O'Connell, near Mastergeehy, County Kerry; and whether, in view of the fact that the tenants signed purchase agreements under misapprehension, and, on learning the exact character of the agreements, immediately repudiated
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them, the Estates Commissioners will use their influence to secure a settlement of the purchase negotiations.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they cannot trace any proceedings as having been instituted before them in respect of the estate mentioned in the Question, and that they have no knowledge of the matters referred to. If any application should be made to the Commissioners by either party they would, no doubt, consider whether they could usefully offer their services as conciliators under the regulations.